Skomer vole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skomer vole |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Genus: | Myodes |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
M. g. skomerensis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Myodes glareolus skomerensis (Barrett-Hamilton, 1903)
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The Skomer vole (Myodes glareolus skomerensis) is a special type of bank vole. It lives only on the island of Skomer, which is off the west coast of Wales. This means it is endemic to Skomer.
Scientists believe that bank voles were brought to Skomer by people after the last glaciation (Ice Age). The Skomer vole is one of four small mammal species that live on the island. There are about 20,000 voles living there.
These voles are small, growing to about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long. They weigh up to 40 grams (1.4 oz), which is about the same as a small chocolate bar. Like other voles, they do not live very long, usually up to 18 months.
The main animals that hunt Skomer voles are owls. Other hunters include the common kestrel, common buzzard, and peregrine falcon.
Who Discovered the Skomer Vole?
The Skomer vole was first found by Robert Drane. He was a pharmacist from Swansea who lived until 1914. Robert Drane helped start the Cardiff Naturalists Society in 1867. He was also an expert on porcelain and worked at the Cardiff Museum.
